New Forest Non-Native Plants Project

The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project was set up in 2009 to control the spread of invasive non-native plants:-

Japanese knotweed	Himalayan balsam	Giant hogweed

American skunk cabbage	New Zealand pygmyweed	Parrot's feather

Creeping water primrose

Images of Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, American skunk cabbage and Parrot's feather provided by Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat; image of New Zealand pygmyweed provided by Peter Llewellyn; Creeping water primrose by Trevor Renals.

The New Forest is one of the most important areas for wildlife in western Europe but is threatened by these invasive non-native plants. They were introduced to the UK as ornamentals to be grown in gardens or, in the case of New Zealand pygmyweed, as an oxygenator in garden ponds but they have jumped the garden fence and invaded the countryside. They grow vigorously, spread rapidly and elbow-out our native wildflowers which provide important food and nectar for invertebrates.

For the project to be successful we need your help!

How can you get involved with the Project?

Help is needed to map where these plants grow in the New Forest area. The plants are easy to identify so you don't need to be an expert botanist. Records can be submitted electronically or via post. Alternatively you can fill in and send us a recording card. Please contact Catherine Chatters or Jo Gore at feedback@hwt.org.uk or call 023 8042 4205 if you would like a supply of recording cards.
Help is needed to pull up Himalayan balsam in the summer. If you have a few hours to spare and enjoy working in the countryside come and join us on a volunteer conservation working party- details of work parties.

How can the Project help you?

If you own or manage land in or near the New Forest and have any of these plants on your land, particularly in or near rivers and wetlands, we may be able to help you by arranging for work to be undertaken by contractors or volunteers. We may also be able to provide funding. Please contact Catherine Chatters feedback@hwt.org.uk or call 023 8042 4205 for an initial discussion and to request a site visit.

To help find alternatives to introducing non-native plants into your pond or aquarium, Plantlife have produced a booklet entitled ‘Keeping ponds and aquaria without harmful invasive plants: A guide to plants you can use in place of invasive non-natives’. It can be found by clicking the link above.

For further information please contact Catherine Chatters or Jo Gore, New Forest Non-Native Plants Officers on 023 8042 4205 or at feedback@hwt.org.uk

The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project is a joint partnership between the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, The Forestry Commission, Natural England, DEFRA and the New Forest National Park Authority. The New Forest National Park Authority is supporting the Project financially through core funds and the Sustainable Development Fund.

Be Plant Wise

The Government has recently launched a new campaign called ‘Be Plant Wise'. It aims to stop the spread of non-native invasive garden pond plants by:-

encouraging people to know what you grow
encouraging people to compost with care to dispose of surplus garden pond plants responsibly
encouraging people to stop the spread of invasive garden pond plants in the countryside as even tiny fragments of plants can cause an invasion.

Find out more at www.direct.gov.uk/beplantwise

The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project supports the Be Plant Wise campaign. Catherine Chatters, the Project Officer, is pleased to have been involved with the launch of the campaign. She gave live interviews on BBC Breakfast TV on 24 February 2010 at Hincheslea in The New Forest where the Project has arranged for invasive parrot's feather to be controlled.

Defra logo